Suchergebnisse

La vocation de l'Organisation Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (OIBT), qui regroupe des pays producteurs et des pays utilisateurs de bois tropicaux, est de mener des réflexions, d'échanger des informations et de développer des politiques sur tous les aspects de l'économie des bois tropicaux dans le monde.

The International Cotton Advisory Committee held its fifteenth plenary meeting in Washington, D. C, from May 8 through 17, 1956, under the chairmanship of Mr. Marvin L. McLain (United States). Sixty-two governments were represented, 32 as members of the Committee and 30 as observers. The Committee received a report from the Standing Committee on the present world cotton situation and the Secretariat's annual review, heard statements by member countries and observers, and held an extensive discussion of the world cotton situation, in which it attributed the present imbalance between supply and demand and the consequent build-up of world cotton stocks to the 1) existence of relatively high cotton prices, 2) marked improvement in cotton production techniques, and 3) economic progress in a number of underdeveloped countries, bringing new areas into cotton production. The conference felt that changes in United States government policy would lead to an improvement in cotton's competitive position and would offer some disincentive to uneconomic cotton production. At the same time, the Committee warned against any sudden or substantial decline in cotton prices which would adversely affect the economies of both producing and consuming countries. Finally, the Committee stressed the unsettling effect on world markets of uncertainty regarding the future level of cotton prices. With respect to the price question, the Committee recommended reasonable short-term stability to facilitate orderly distribution of crops and longer-term price flexibility to permit adjustments in cotton supply and demand.

As with any rapid technological development, the biotechnology revolution is putting great strains on the ability of law to adapt to new challenges and threats. Although there is general agreement on the need to regulate biotechnology in many different fields of human activity (agriculture, life sciences, forensic science) domestic law remains deeply divided over the best approach to take. This book is the first attempt at covering the most pressing legal issues raised by the impact of biotechnologies on different categories of international norms. Through the contribution of a selected group of international scholars and experts from international organizations, the book addresses 1) the international status of genetic resources, both in areas of national jurisdiction and in common spaces such as the international sea bed area and Antarctica; 2) the relevance of environmental principles in the governance of modern biotechnologies; 3) the impact of biotechnologies on trade rules, including intellectual property law; 4) the human rights implications, especially in the field of human genetics; and 5) the intersection between general international law and regional systems, especially those developed in Europe and Latin America. The overall objective of the book is to provide an up-to-date picture of international law as it stands today and to stimulate critical reflection and further research on the solutions that will be required in years to come ; Part I. The international legal regime of biotechnology : general aspects. -- 1. International law for biotechnology : basic principles / F. Francioni. -- 2. Biodiversity and biotechnology : consolidation and strains in the emerging international legal regimes / R. Pavoni. -- Part II. Biotechnology and the protection of the environment. -- 3. Biotechnology, biodiversity and sustainable development : conflict and congruence? / C. Redgwell. -- 4. Bioprospecting on the deep seabed : a legal gap requiring to be filled / T. Scovazzi. -- 5. Biotechnology and marine biogenetic resources : the interplay between UNCLOS and the CBD / G. Cataldi. -- 6. Antartic bioprospecting : is it compatible with the value of Antarctica as a natural reserve? / P. Vigni. -- 7. Bioprospecting in Antarctica : a new challenge for the Antarctic treaty system / A. Guyomard. -- Part III. Biotechnology and international trade issues. -- 8. The WTO dispute over genetically modified organisms : interface problems of international trade law, environmental law and biotechnology law / E.-U. Petersmann. -- 9. Traditional knowledge, biodiversity, benefit-sharing and the patent system : romantics v. economics? / H. Ullrich -- 10. International trade in GMOs : legal frameworks and developing country concerns / S. Zarrilli. -- Part IV. Biotechnology and human rights. -- 11. Agricultural biotechnology, food security and human rights / M. E. Footer. -- 12. Biotechnology, human dignity and the human genome / F. Lenzerini. -- 13. Indigenous peoples' rights, biogenetic resources and traditional knowledge : the case of the Sateré-Mawé people / M. Fraboni and F. Lenzerini. -- Part V. Biotechnology and regional economic integration systems. -- 14. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the governance of biotechnology in the European Union / P. Šturma. -- 15. The EU risk management of genetically modified organisms and the Comission's defence strategy in the biotech dispute : are they inconsistent? / S. Poli. -- 16. Biotechnology and regional integration systems; legislation and practices in the Andean community countries / F. Novak

The English school of international relations is in large parts focused on the study of historical change; at the same time, however, it is remarkably unclear on how to understand change in between the idealist belief in progress and the realist eternal cycles of recurrence. This article seeks to avoid this dead end by questioning the school's understanding of change as a commonsensical concept. It is argued that change would be better understood as composed of three facets: one ontological (what is change?), one explanatory (what causes change?), and one normative (is change desirable?). This metatheoretical reconceptualization of change permits cross-checking the three facets against each other for internal coherence, but most importantly, it makes visible the underlying assumptions used to study change, so that ideas of history, causes, and normative ideals can be openly scrutinized, questioned, and defended rather than treated as self-evident. The resulting suggestion of an internally metatheoretically coherent understanding of change in international society signifies a much-needed addition to the English school tool-kit. It brings a promise of a significant metatheoretical overhaul of the theory, which, if taken up, will open up new horizons for the school. In addition, it opens up similar metatheoretical inquiries into other international relations theories' views of change.